tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5043138489010794057.post1616513188051049275..comments2024-03-27T15:57:09.192+05:30Comments on Urbanomics: Developing world needs jobs and entrepreneurship, but much more of the formerUrbanomicshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16956198290294771298noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5043138489010794057.post-79646479537264472672016-10-05T01:06:15.006+05:302016-10-05T01:06:15.006+05:30Thanks for the comments. I agree with you that imp...Thanks for the comments. I agree with you that improvements in labor conditions is not automatic. And it would require collective action, at some level. Unfortunately, the prevailing narrative on deregulating labor markets (the debate is especially strong in countries like India, where labor market restraints are seen as critical growth inhibitors), may come in the way of promoting collective action.<br /><br />But the point about exploitative labor conditions as countries develop and the need to mobilise effective response to it is well known and did not need a paper to validate. This is an agenda that Aid agencies already have in their ESG due diligence etc, though more could be doe. <br /><br />But an explicit labor standards focused initiative could be counter-productive. The issue may have to be viewed with all its nuances - standards that promote basic dignity (relative to that country's society) without taking away the country's labor arbitrage and thereby eroding its competitiveness. Urbanomicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16956198290294771298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5043138489010794057.post-79660825533186746622016-10-04T22:34:32.801+05:302016-10-04T22:34:32.801+05:30You argue that historical experience suggests that...You argue that historical experience suggests that conditions improve over time. I'd agree but also argue that historical experience suggests that this isn't automatic - improvements in working conditions have had to be fought for by trade unions, labour movements and other collective action. So a key question is how the struggle for better working conditions will develop in Africa, Asia and Latin America. And indeed how successfully new forms of exploitation and abuse will be challenged in North America and Europe. And a intriguing policy question that arises from the Blattman paper is whether aid actors should focus less on promoting entrepreneurs and more on supporting collective action on decent work. Paul Harveynoreply@blogger.com